Internal combustion engine



'NOW 14, 1933. R, R LANSING 1,935,454

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Original Filed April 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 14, 1933. R, P, LANSlNG 1,935,454

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Original Filed April 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet `2 @Hol-nega Patented Nov. 14, 71933 Y l .I (l l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INTERNAL COMBUSTIGN ENGINE d Raymond ll. Lansing, Montclair, N. J.

Original application April 8, 1927, Serial No. `131,975, and in Great Britain November 23, 1928. Divided and this application May 24, 1573301.93Serial No. 455,302. Renewed December 13 Claims. (Cl. 290-1) My invention relates to internal. combustion complete embodiment also includes the feature engines and more particularly, but not necesof the utilization of the yielding driving ,mecha- Sarily, airplane engines, and the object thereof nism as the driving mechanism between the enis to provide a simple, eicient and reliable appagine and the electric generator. ratus which is characterized by the location and Insofar as my inventionin its broader aspect 60 mounting of an accessory unit, such as a generis concerned, that is the provision of yielding ator, adjacent the position in which the engine driving mechanism upon the engine member starting apparatus is mounted, the latter being adapted to function as the means for driving an preferably disposed substantially directlyinalignauxiliary unit`during normal operation of the ment with a rotatable part of the engine to be engine, the particular construction of the starter 65 started, such as the crank shaft thereof, whereby apparatus may be of any suitable character, but such mechanism utilizes a space within the crank I prefer to employ the practical construction of case or adjacent the crankshaft which space is not apparatus as shown in the drawings and as hereotherwise used,and whereby the driving apparatus inafter described in detail.

itself which is attached to the crank Yshaft may In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section 70 be correspondingly shortened, as well as other of my. apparatus taken on an irregular section advantages of structural and functional characline in order to show the manual actuating means ter which will be made apparent from the deon the same plane, Whereas its DOSOH in Pracscription hereinafter given. My invention is also tice is at right angles to the position shown; Fig.

characterized by the employment of such mech-` 2 is an elevation on a smaller scale illustrating 75 anism as the connecting or driving mechanism the generator and associated parts; Figs. 3 and between the engine and the generator, provision 4 are cross-sections on the corresponding secbeing preferably madel in such mechanism for a tion lines of Fig. l looking in the directions of different torque capacity in the direction for the the arrow; Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the cranking of the engine than in the opposite dinut. 80 rection for the driving of the generator, the first Describing the particular embodiment of my named direction having the ,higher capacity for invention as herein shown, and rst referring to torque transmission. Also in the preferred structhe starter drive proper, the same is located with- Y ture of my apparatus I e loy an inertia device in a main casing l which is suitably supported as which is combined and ar anged in novel manby being detachably connected with the crank 85 ner with certain mechanism of such starting apcase 2 of the engine in suitable manner' as by paratus, more particularly the reduction gearing means of the bolts 3. This casing is provided with employed by such inertia device. an end plate 4 secured thereto by screws 5 and In'the preferred embodiment of my invention containing bearingsA for rotating parts as hereas herein shown and selected for convenience in inafter described, and also supporting an exten- 90 ymaking disclosure thereof, my starting apparatus 'sion casing 6 secured to the plate 4 by the screws is as disclosed and claimed in my co-pending ap- 7 and forming a bearing and enclosure for parts plication Serial No. 131,975, filed April 8, 1927, of the manual means.

and comprises a transmission or drive including The driving member proper of the starter ap- 40 a driving member adapted to crank a member of paratus comprises a rotatable and longitudinally 95 the engine to be started, such as the crank shaft movable shaft 8 and also a clutch member 9 thereof, through the medium of a yielding drivmounted on -one end thereof for longitudinal ing connection which instead of being a part of movement thereofV and rotary movement therethe starter drive /or transmission proper is with as by means of splines 10. A manually mounted upon such engine member, and means operated rod 11 extends centrally through the 100 for actuating the starting apparatus. The actushaft 8 and clutch member 9 `and is operatively ating means may be either power or manually connected thereto but provision is made whereby driven, or may employ both power and manual the clutch member may have ya relative independmeans adapted to be used either conjointly orN ent movement upon its shaft 8 and the rod 11 5o separately, as desired,.but, for purposes of illusagainst the tensionof the coil spring 12. A nut 105 tration, -the present embodiment discloses only 13 on the outer end of the rod 11 limits the outmanualmeans. Also such embodiment includes ward movement of the clutch member. This an inertia means such as the flywheel which in clutch is in the form of a dog clutch with jaws 14 the present instance forms a part of the reducon its outer face. f tion gearing of the starting apparatus and such In the present instance the shaft 8 has screw 110 l i .l

thread action with respect to its cooperating parts of the transmission and to this end such shaft is a screw shaft provided with external threads 15 which engage corresponding screw threads 16 in the interior of a sleeveo17 acting as a nut therefor which nut is capable of rotary movement but incapable of longitudinal movement. This sleeveis mounted to rotate within anti-friction bearings 18 mounted in the central bore of the plate 4 and also within abushing 19.

The sleeve 17 is drivingly connected at its outer end vwith a bevel gear 20 which is adapted to be driven by suitable manually operated means which here comprises a corresponding bevel gear 21 secured to a cranking shaft 22 bearing in the casing 6 by means of the bearings 23 and 24 and extending laterally of the apparatus whereby any suitable hand crank may be applied by the operator to engage the crank pins 25 and thereby rotate the cranking shaft 22 and eventually the driving member 8 and its clutch member 9. If desired, the manual actuating means just described may be replaced or augmented by power means of any suitable type, such as an electric motor.

This embodiment is provided with an inertia device and also with reduction means, the sleeve 17 here constituting a component part thereof :for compactness and solidity. As shown this sleeve is provided towards its outer end with a peripheral flange 26 and a marginal flange 27 provided internally with `teeth to form a rotatable internal gear which is a part of the reduction gearing of the apparatus. A4 stationary internal gear 28 is secured within the casing l by screws 29, the same being of approximately the same diameter as the gear 27 and in the 'same plane but spaced apart therefrom. vThis reduc-v tion gearing is of the planetary type, being provided with a series of planetary pinions 30 mounted on studs 31 which in turn are mounted in a cage formed by the two parallel plates 32 which are mounted in bearings' 33. These pinions have two sets of peripheral gear teeth 34 and 35 which teeth are of different numbers, the left-hand set of teeth 35 having one more tooth than the set 34 for the proper reduction purposes, there being a corresponding difference in the number of the teeth of the two internal gears. The plates 32 are held in proper spaced relation by bolts 36 and spacers 37, such bolts passing through the web of an inertia device flywheel 38 and being thereby secured thereto. 'I'his web is positioned centrally with respect to the internal gears 27 and 28 and also concentrically of the reduction gearing, as well as the driving member. This iiywheel is thus locked by means of the spacers 37 bearing on opposite sides of the web as shown in Fig. 1. In addition to the anti-friction bearings described I also provide another bearing 39 which is interposed between the central opening of the casing 1 and the bushing 19.

Next describing the yielding driving mechanism which is mounted upon the engine member, such engine member in the present instance is the crank shaft 40 which has a reduced central extension 41 on which such mechanism ismounted and to which it is operatively connected. This mechanism as herein shown comprises a rotatable barrel 42 which is closed at its inner end except for the central opening through which such shaft or extension 41 passes. A washer 43 is preferably interposed between the end of the barrel and a shoulder 44 of the crankshaft. The other end of the barrel is closed by a plate 45 interlocked therewith and held in place by a clamping ring 46 screwing on the outer end of the barrel. This plate 45 constitutes a clutch member andthe same is provided on its outer face with clutch jaws 47 complementary to and adapted to be engaged by the clutch jaws 14 of the starter apparatus proper.

The yielding driving mechanism further comprises a screw sleeve 48 which is mounted on the shaft 4l for rotary movement therewith and a slight longitudinal movement thereof as by being splined therto. Thissleeve is externally screw threaded to cooperate with a nut 49. At its outer side this nut cooperates with a friction clutch of constant Value. In the present .instance this clutch comprises two sets of friction plates 50 and 51 which are operatively connected respectively to the interior of the barrel 42 and l to an extension or series of tongues 52 on the nut as by being splined thereto. This clutch is of constant value and the pressure on the plates is obtained through the spiral spring 53 bearing against the ring 54 and consequently against the plates 50 and 5l and also against the abutment plate 55 which is secured to the outer end of the shaft or stud 41. Y

Another friction clutch is interposed between the nut and the barrel the same comprising two sets of plates 56 and 57 which are splined respectively to the interior of the barrel and to an extension or a series of tongues 58 on the left hand sidel of the nut, Fig. 1. These friction plates bear at one end against one face of the nut and at the other end against a spacing ring 59 interposed between such clutch and the inner `end of the barrel. A rather heavy compression spring 60 is interposed between the abutment 55 and the nut 49.

When the driving mechanism above described is employed as the driving connection from the engine to an electric generator the barrel 42 is provided with a separate or integral bevel gear 61 adapted to mesh with a corresponding bevel gear 62 secured to and driving the'extended armature shaft 63 of the generator 64. This arma- 'ture shaft may have its bearing in the casing 1 as hei-'ein shown and be conveniently removable therewith from the crank shaft when the starter' apparatus is removed, and the same is likewise assembled under the same condition.

Describing a cycle of operation and beginning with the parts in their normal position shown in Fig. 1, the operator applies the hand crank and rotates the cranking shaft 22 whereupon the sleeve 17 will be rotated through the bevel gears 21 and 20. Likewise the planetary gearing will be rotated and the inertia flywheel will be rotated and thereupon accelerated as the cranking operation continues.

When the flywheel has been iis reo

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sufficiently accelerated the operator` will thrustv the rod 11 inwardly, that is towards the left in jaws 47 of the yielding driving mechanism. Conf sequently the barrel 42 will be rotated, and also the nut 49 through the medium of both of the friction clutches which now act conjointly inv4 transmitting the considerable torque of the starting apparatus. The direction of the threads of caused to bear upon the nut and the frictionplates 56 and 57. Consequently, both of the friction clutches are now 4in action and torque is transmitted through both of them and through the nut and thence to the sleeve 48 and shaft 41 and consequently to the engine which is thereby cranked.

When the engine has started on its own power and thereby becomes the driver instead of the driven member, the excess speed of rotation'imparted to the starter apparatus will cause the driving member thereof to be automatically disconnected from the yielding mechanism of the engine through the screw thread action of the shaft 8 and sleeve 17 whereupon the parts` will rsume their normal position shown in Fig. l. Assuming that the yielding driving mechanism is-utilized to drive an electric generator, when the barrel 42 is rotated, as by the engine when in operation, such barrel willbe rotated by the engine and the torque thereof will be transmitted through the bevel gears 61 and 62 to the generator for the purpose of generating current for any desired purpose, as for instance vcharging any batteries that may be carried on the airplane or for furnishing igntion and lights either direct thereto or indirectly through the battery. Inasmuch as the engine acceleration is considerable and sudden and the weight of the armature is considerable, it is necessary to provide means for limiting the amount of torque transmitted from the engine to the generator. To this end, I make provision for disabling the larger friction clutch composed of the plates 56 and 57 and utilizing merely the constant value clutch composed of the plates 51 and 52 .so that mitted merely through the low value clutch.

When the engine becomes the driver the rota--Y tion voi' the shaft 41 causes a rotation of the sleeve 48 and as the nut 49 remains in substantially -the same plane longitudinally the screw action between these parts will move the sleeve 48 slightly'to the left and towards the ring 66 so that the pressure of the heavy spring 60 will be relieved from the larger friction clutch and the torque will then be transmitted from the shaft 41 through the sleeve 48 and nut 49, the low vlalue or constant clutch and thence tothe barrel 42 and eventually to the generator.

The structures embodying my invention possessv numerous practical and functional advantages besides those set forth in the preamble hereof, among which may be stated the following:

By the locating and mounting of thev yielding driving mechanism upon the engine member or crank shaft, it is possible to make .the starter apparatus proper-much shorter inasmuch as such 'driving mechanism no longer constitutes a part .of the starter apparatus proper but is removed ing a part of the starter apparatus proper.

limited as to radial dimensinons as when form- In addition my construction provides compactness and solidity of parts not only by reason of the structure and arrangement above described, but also by connecting the screw sleeve direct with the reduction gearing and the bevel gear and in fact in making the same a part of such gear- This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 181,975, filed April 8, 1927.

What is claimed is:

1. In an engine starting apparatus, the combination, with a rotatable member of the engine to be started, of a yielding driven means connected thereto, -engine cranking means adapted to actuate said driven means and to thereby crank the engine, and an electric generator operatively connected with and driven by said driven means.

2. In an engine starting apparatus, the combination, with a rotatable member of the en- A gine to be started, of a driven'means connected thereto and including a clutch, engine cranking means adapted to actuate said driven means and to thereby`crank the engine, an electric generator operatively connected with and driven by said driven means, said clutch having a different capacity for torque transmission in the direction for the cranking of the engine than in the opposite direction for the drivingv of the generator.

3. In an engine starting apparatus, the combination, with a rotatable member of the engine to be started, of a driven means connected thereto and including a friction clutch having different torque transmission capacities according to the direction of such transmission, and also including vmeans for controlling such capacity automatically according to the direction of transmission, an auxiliary engine unit operatively connected With and driven by said driven means, and mechanism` for actuating the driven means.

4. In an engine starting apparatus, the combination, with a rotatable member of the engine to be started, of a driven means connected thereto and including a clutch composed of friction plates and an automatic means cooperating with such plates to control the amount of pressure thereon according to the direction of transmission of torque through said driven means in uni-directional rotation of said driven means, an auxiliary engine unit operatively connected with and driven by said driven means, and mechanism for actuating the driven means.

5. In an engine starting apparatus, the combination, with a rotatable member of the engine to be started, of a driven means connected thereyto and including a sleeve operatively connected with the engine member, a barrel, a nut threaded on the sleeve for automatic travel thereon, a friction clutch composed of plates operatively connected with the barrel and nut, an auxiliary engine unit operatively connected with and driven L by the barrel, and mechanism for actuating the driven means.

6. In an engine starting apparatus, the combination, with a rotatable member of the engine to be started, of a driven means connected thereto and including a sleeve operatively connected with the engine member, a barrel, a nut threaded on the sleeve, two friction clutches each composed IBG of plates operatively connected with the barrel and nut, one of such clutches having `a constant torque transmitting capacity,fand being adapted to drivably connect said barrel with an auxiliary engine unit.

7. In an engine starting apparatus, the combination, with a rotatable member of the engine to be started of a driven means connected thereto and including two friction clutches of different torque transmitting capacities, an electric generator operatively connected with and driven by said driven means through one of said clutches, and mechanism cooperating with said driven means for driving the engine member through the other clutch.

to be started, of a driven means connected thereto' and including two friction clutches of different torque transmitting capacities, an electric generator operatively connected with and driven by said driven means through one of said clutches, and mechanism cooperating with said driven means for driving the engine member through both of said clutches.

10. In an engine starting apparatus; the combination, with a rotatable member of the engine to be started, of a driven means connected thereto and including two friction clutches of different torque transmitting capacities, one of said clutches being adapted to drivably connect an electric generator with such driven means, said latterclutch-havinga torque transmitting capacity which is lconstant and less than that of such other clutch, said driven means also including a device controlling such other clutch whereby it will transmit torque only in the dil rection towards the engine member, and mechanism cooperating with said driven means for driving the engine member through both of said clutches.

11. In an engine starting apparatus, the com bination, with a rotatable member of `the engine to be started, of a driven means constantly connected thereto comprising an element secured to the engine member, a rotatable member and yielding means between such latter member and element, driving means adapted to engage and crank such rotatable member, and an electric generator operatively connected with and driven by said driven means, said yielding means functioning in common for the generator and the driving means.

12. In an engine starting apparatus, the com- `bination, with a rotatable member of the engine to be started, of a driven means constantly connected thereto comprising a shaft secured to the engine member, a barrel, a friction clutch oper-v atively connecting the barrel and the shaft, an electric generator operatively connected with said barrel, and driving means vadapted to engage and crank such barrel, said barrel being adapted to drive said electric generator.

13. In an engine starting apparatus, in combination with a rotatable member of the engine to be started, driven means connected thereto and including a friction clutch, engine cranking means adapted to actuate said driven means and thereby crank the engine, an electric generator operatively connected with and driven by said driven means, and means for pre-setting said clutch to transmit a predetermined torque and to yield on application of a torque beyond such predetermined value. g

RAYMOND. P. LANSING. 

